English Hills Country Club reopens after five years

After five years and two potential housing development sales falling through, the golf course at English Hills Country Club is reopen and offering what owners call an affordable option to golfers.

Owners Bruce Langlois and Kim and Steve Sorrelle opened the public golf course at 1200 Four Mile Ave. NW in Comstock Park to play Sept. 15.

"Our idea since we started working on the course again was to try to give West Michigan golfers a break," Kim Sorrelle said. "Prices keep going up, and we knew there was a way we could offer golf at a lower price."

Steve Sorrelle, the superintendent, worked to get the course open since April, and to save money is offering a playing condition without the use of high-priced pesticides and fertilizers.

The playing conditions, Kim Sorrelle said, are similar to when they were last open as a golf course five years ago. The banquet facilities at the site have remained open.

Kim Sorrelle said the hope is to eventually sell the golf course property for development, but the plan is to stay open into next golf season, weather permitting.

Golfers can walk and play 18 holes for $10, or nine holes for $6. The cart rate is $15 for 18 holes, $9 for nine (based on at least two golfers playing).

"We seem to get busier each day," Sorrelle said. "Word of mouth and our prices are really great. This is a tough economy, so we've given the golfer another choice. There are a lot of pristine golf courses in this area, so golfers have those choices. We are just offering affordable golf."

Senior Amateur next month
The West Michigan Senior Amateur is slated for Oct. 5-6 at The Meadows at Grand Valley State.

Record rainfall forced a recent postponement of the event, and organizers did not want to conflict with the Sept. 22 Michigan Senior Amateur.

The 36-hole stroke play event is open to men 55 and older and includes a super senior division for those 65 and older. Entry forms are available at www.gvsu.edu/meadows.com. Call 895-1004.